Jonah Crab
Jonah Crab
Cancer borealis
Also Known As
White-legger, Peekytoe crab, Atlantic dungeness, Rock crab
Quick Facts
Weight
1 to 2 pounds
Length
Up to 6 inches (female) and 9 inches (male)
Region
New England/Mid-Atlantic
About the Species
Jonah crabs live in the waters of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, ranging from Canada to Florida. Scientists have limited information about their life cycle and behavior because few research studies have been conducted. Female Jonah crabs are believed to move closer to shore in the late spring and summer, then return offshore in the fall and winter.
Historically, Jonah crab was caught as an incidental catch in the American lobster fishery. However, Jonah crabs have become a targeted species and catch (landings) increased significantly in the early 2010s. This increase is linked to two factors: fewer lobsters in Southern New England waters and higher prices for other crab species. As a result, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission implemented the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Jonah Crab. To support the plan, and in compliance with the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (Atlantic Coastal Act), NOAA Fisheries implemented regulations for the Jonah crab fishery in federal waters in 2019.
Population
The population level is unknown, but management measures are in place.
Fishing Rate
Overfishing status is unknown, but management measures are in place.
Habitat Impact
Fishing gear used to harvest American lobster and Jonah crab have minimal impacts on habitat.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Population Status
According to the 2023 benchmark stock assessment completed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, the overfishing and overfished status are unknown. However, the stock is regarded as not depleted, relative to historical periods, and fishery-independent indices of abundance have remained stable through recent years.
The ASMFC stock status overview provides a summary of the 2023 stock assessment, including an overview of management, the types of data used, and how the data were analyzed.
Appearance
Jonah crabs are characterized by a round, reddish-brown shell with rough-edged teeth and small yellow spots. They are also identified by their large claws which have dark brown/black tips.
Biology
The life cycle of Jonah crabs is poorly understood. While little is known about their movements, it is widely believed females migrate in the spring to shallower waters and return offshore to deeper, colder waters during the fall and winter.
Jonah crabs are omnivorous (eating both plants and animals) and consume a variety of species, including snails, mussels, urchins, algae, and arthropods.
Where They Live
Range
Jonah crabs are found in the Northwest Atlantic, ranging from Canada to Florida. In the United States, there is a commercial Jonah crab fishery that spans from Maine through Virginia. But most are caught by fishermen on the outer continental shelf south of Massachusetts and Rhode Island
Habitat
Jonah crabs are generally found from the intertidal zone down to depths of 2,600 feet. Their habitat ranges from rocky substrates in coastal and offshore areas to softer, silt and clay bottoms along the continental slope.
Fishery Management
Jonah crab is co-managed by NOAA Fisheries and the coastal states through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). The American Lobster Management Board within the ASMFC oversees both American lobster and Jonah crab. Jonah crab were once an unintentional catch in lobster traps, but have increasingly become a targeted species.
Recommended measures are implemented by states in state waters and by NOAA Fisheries in federal waters under the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (Atlantic Coastal Act).
Harvest
In 2024, commercial landings of Jonah crab totaled 11 million pounds and were valued at $9 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database.
Scientific Classification
Jonah crabs are found in the Northwest Atlantic, ranging from Canada to Florida. In the United States, there is a commercial Jonah crab fishery that spans from Maine through Virginia. But most are caught by fishermen on the outer continental shelf south of Massachusetts and Rhode Island
Jonah crabs are generally found from the intertidal zone down to depths of 2,600 feet. Their habitat ranges from rocky substrates in coastal and offshore areas to softer, silt and clay bottoms along the continental slope.
Fishery Management
Jonah crab is co-managed by NOAA Fisheries and the coastal states through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). The American Lobster Management Board within the ASMFC oversees both American lobster and Jonah crab. Jonah crab were once an unintentional catch in lobster traps, but have increasingly become a targeted species.
Recommended measures are implemented by states in state waters and by NOAA Fisheries in federal waters under the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (Atlantic Coastal Act).
Harvest
In 2024, commercial landings of Jonah crab totaled 11 million pounds and were valued at $9 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database.
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia | Phylum | Arthropoda | Class | Malacostraca | Order | Decapoda | Family | Cancridae | Genus | Cancer | Species | borealis |
|---|
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Related Species
Commercial Fishing Regulations
There is currently no standalone commercial Jonah crab fishery that operates independently of the American lobster fishery—the two species share the same habitat and are caught using similar gear. Both species are subject to the same gear and reporting rules.
Federal regulations for Jonah crab went into effect on December 12, 2019. These regulations include requiring a federal lobster permit to possess and/or land Jonah crab, a minimum size restriction, prohibition on possessing egg-bearing Jonah crab, and requirements for reporting.
Permit requirement: A federal lobster permit is required to fish for and possess Jonah crabs in federal waters. Additional state permits may be required.
- Size and restrictions:
- Crabs must measure at least 4.75 inches straight across the widest part of the shell (carapace width). Vessels may not retain crabs smaller than this width. For a more detailed description, refer to 50 CFR 697.20.
- It is illegal to keep Jonah crabs carrying eggs.
- Possession limits:
- Trap permit holders have no catch limit.
- Non-trap permit holders may keep up to 1,000 Jonah crabs, but these crabs cannot make up more than 50 percent of the total catch by weight.
- Traps: Jonah crab traps can only be set in areas where a vessel is already qualified to fish for American lobsters. Any traps set to target Jonah crab must comply with all lobster trap size, escape vents, and gear tagging and marking requirements. Each trap set to target Jonah crab also counts toward the vessel permit’s lobster trap limit.
- Sales: Jonah crab may only be sold to federally-permitted dealers with a Jonah crab endorsement.
Summary of Federal Regulations for the Jonah Crab Fishery
| Sector | Management Measure | Requirement |
| Commercial | Vessel permitting | Landing requires a federal lobster permit |
| Minimum size | 4.75-inch (12.065-cm) carapace width | |
| Broodstock protection | Prohibit retention of egg-bearing females | |
| Incidental limit | Up to 1,000 crabs per trip | |
| Incidental catch definition | Up to 50 percent of weight onboard |
Note: While federal regulations do not prohibit harvesting claws, some state regulations may prohibit such activity or specify the amount of claws that may be taken. Please check with the appropriate state marine fisheries management agency for additional information on Jonah crab claw regulations.
Reporting A Commercial Catch
Catch Reporting and Vessel Trip Reports (VTR)
Beginning April 1, 2024, owners/operators of vessels holding a federal lobster permit (also allowing the harvest of Jonah crab) must submit VTRs electronically. For more information about trip reporting, and to see a list of approved eVTR software applications, please visit Vessel Trip Reporting in the Greater Atlantic Region.
Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Requirements
Vessel tracking, similar to VMS, has been mandated since late 2023 with most vessels carrying tracking devices since 2024, though this is still under litigation in some states.
Check with your state fishery management agency for applicable vessel tracking requirements.
Dealer Reporting
Anyone holding a federal lobster dealer permit must report every species they buy, including Jonah crab. All dealers must provide weekly electronic trip level reports of purchases.
Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System Requirements
The Amercian lobster and Jonah crab fisheries do not have any IVR requirements. However, those vessels with a federal lobster permit and another federal fisheries permit that requires the IVR system must include the harvest of lobster and all other species to NOAA Fisheries.
Observer Requirements
A federal lobster vessel must take a federal fishery observer upon request by the federal government (50 CFR 697.12). This requirement applies whether the vessel is targeting lobster, Jonah crab, or both.
Commercial Gear Information
Lobster Trap Requirements by Area
| Lobster Management Area | Area 1 | Area 2 | Area 3 | Area 4 | Area 5 | Area 6 | OCC |
| Escape vent rectangular | 1- 15/16 x 5- ¾” | 2 x 5- ¾” | 2- 1/16 x 5- ¾” | 2 x 5- ¾” | 2 x 5- ¾” | 2 x 5- ¾” | 2 x 5- ¾” |
| Escape vent circular | 2- 7/16” | 2- 5/8” | 2- 11/16” | 2- 5/8” | 2- 5/8” | 2- 5/8” | 2- 5/8” |
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Lobster Trap Gear Marking Areas
Federal lobster trap vessels must adhere to the gear marking requirements as set forth in §697.21 of the Federal lobster regulations for each gear marking area, as summarized below:
Buoy, Line Marking, and Deployment Requirements for Lobster Traps
- The deployment and gear configuration for American lobster, as defined by §697.21(b), establishes gear requirements for four geographic areas: (1) The Gulf of Maine, (2) Georges Bank, (3) Southern New England and (4) Mid-Atlantic gear areas (see Figure2).
- American lobster trap trawls consisting of three or fewer traps deployed in the four geographic areas identified in Figure 2 must be attached to and marked with a single buoy.
- Lobster trap trawls consisting of more than three traps must have a radar reflector and a single flag or pennant on the westernmost end (marking the half compass circle from magnetic south through west, to and including north), while the easternmost end (meaning the half compass circle from magnetic north through east, to and including south) of an American lobster trap trawl must be configured with a radar reflector only.
- Standard tetrahedral corner radar reflectors of at least 8 inches (20.32 cm) (both in height and width, and made from metal) must be employed.
- Furthermore, no American lobster trap trawl shall exceed 1.5 nautical miles (2.78 km) in length, as measured from radar reflector to radar reflector, except in Area 3 where the maximum length of a lobster trap trawl shall not exceed 1.75 nautical miles (3.24 km).
In addition to the gear configuration requirements mentioned here, permit holders should be aware that American lobster regulations have trap tag requirements for each trap.
Lobster Gear Marking Areas
| Lobster Trap Gear Making Area | N. Latitude | W. Longitude |
| Gulf of Maine | North of 42°20´ | seaward of a line drawn 12 nautical miles (22.2 km) from the baseline of the territorial sea |
| Georges Bank | South of 42°20´ | East of 70°00´ or the outer boundary of the territorial sea, whichever lies farther east |
| Mid-Atlantic | North of 36°33´ at a depth greater than 40 fathoms (73.15 m). | West of 71°30´ |
| Southern New England | N/A | West of 70°00´ W. Long, east of 71°30´ at a depth greater than 25 fathoms (45.72 m |
*See regulations §697.21 for further information on all points.
For a map of the lobster gear areas, please refer to the "Resources" tab.
Hauling Lobster Gear
It is prohibited to possess, deploy, fish with, haul, harvest lobster from, or have on board, trap gear issued to another vessel. Traps must be hauled at least once every 30 days. Wet storage of traps is not permitted. If traps are expected to be unattended for greater than 30 days, we may authorize a substitute vessel to haul ashore the lobster trap gear of a federally permitted lobster vessel that has broken down. Authorization will not be granted to fish a permitted vessel’s gear with another vessel.
Gear Restricted and Closed Areas
Any federal lobster permit holder with a trap designation on their permit, may not fish with traps in an area not designated on the permit. You may choose more than one designated area when applying or reapplying for a fishing permit.
Seasonal Closed Areas
| OCC | Area 4 | Area 5 | |
| Seasonal Closure | February 1 – March 31 | April 30 – May 31 | February 1 – March 31* |
| Grace Period* | None | 1 week gear replacement | 2 weeks gear removal, 1 week gear replacement |
| Federal Regulation | §697.7 (c)(1)(xxx)(A) | §697.7 (c)(1)(xxx)(B) | §697.7 (c)(1)(xxx)(C) |
*Grace periods allow permit holders extra time to remove gear at the beginning of a closure period or reset gear at the end of a closure period. No possession or harvest of lobster is allowed during these grace periods.
Gear Restricted Areas
The gear restricted areas were established with input from both mobile and trap gear lobster fishermen and are intended to avoid gear conflicts during certain times of the year. These areas restrict access to either trap or mobile gear on an alternating seasonal basis as described below:
Gear restricted areas
| Federal Regulations | Restricted Gear Area | Area Closed to Mobile Gear | Area Closed to Lobster Fixed Gear |
| §697.23(b) | I | 10/1-6/15 | 6/16-9/30 |
| §697.23(c) | II | 11/27-6/15 | 6/16-11/26 |
| §697.23(d) | III | 6/16-11/26 | 1/1-4/30 |
| §697.23(e) | IV | 6/16-9/30 | Not Applicable |
For a map of the Gear Restricted Areas, please refer to the maps under the "Resources" tab on the lobster species page.
Seafood Facts
U.S. wild-caught Jonah crab is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Maine to Virginia.
Taste
Sweet.
Texture
Flaky.
Color
Raw meat is translucent white; cooked meat is white with brownish-red highlights.
Health Benefits
Jonah crab is a great source of protein that is also low in saturated fat.
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1; Serving Weight: 100 g; Protein: 18.1 g; Total Fat: 1.08 g; Total Saturated Fatty Acids: 0.222 g; Carbohydrate: 0.04; Total Sugars: 0 g; Total Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Cholesterol: 78 mg; Selenium: 37.4 mcg; Sodium: 293 mgCrab Recipes
Looking for some ways to add crab into your rotation? If you need some cooking inspiration, browse these recipes for crab-stuffed acorn squash, crab and shrimp risotto, and more!
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